The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, California, is seeking a full-time 12-month department head for its BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department (BRAE).
This position has a start date of approximately July 1, 2027. The Department Head is a tenured faculty position and will provide leadership for all academic and administrative functions including instruction, research, and alumni, donor and industry engagement. The Department Head leads a talented team of 11 tenure-line faculty, 3 full-time lecturers, a pool of part-time faculty, and 2 office and technical staff, all of whom engage with approximately 340 students in two undergraduate majors. This position will provide strategic leadership for the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department in the following areas:
The Cal Poly community promotes a "teacher-scholar model,” which emphasizes scholarly activities and teaching excellence. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and potentially graduate courses in the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department programs. These may include lower division general engineering, senior projects, and support courses within the department. They will be expected to engage in scholarly activities (i.e., research, publishing, presenting, and grant or contract writing). Additional duties will include mentoring students, and participating in University, College, and Departmental committees, service, and other activities.
Department Head appointments and 12-month assignments are made and continue at the pleasure of the College Dean. This is a tenured position within the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department. Appointments with tenure shall be made only after an evaluation and recommendation by tenured faculty in the appropriate department. Tenure is given only in the instructional portion of the position, which includes teaching, research, and service. Academic rank and salary will be commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Anticipated hiring range:
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.
Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.
For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.
In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.
Subject to further planning and approval, Cal Poly anticipates a possible transition to semester-based year-round operations (YRO). Under YRO, full-time academic year faculty may be assigned to teach in two consecutive semesters (Fall/Spring, Spring/Summer, or Summer/Fall) out of the three semesters offered annually. The two-semester sequence will constitute the regular academic year appointment. Faculty may also be eligible to teach in the third semester for additional compensation, subject to departmental needs and University policy.
The BioResource and Agricultural Engineering Department currently houses two majors, BioResource and Agricultural Engineering (BRAE) and Agricultural System Management (ASM). Both of these programs are accredited by ABET. The Department is in the last phase of approval of a Sustainable Food Systems program. The Department is dedicated to advancing the study, teaching, and practice of engineering, agricultural systems, sustainability, and data systems management support for agriculture. From day one, students are immersed in the Learn by Doing, laboratory intensive classes designed to hone their problem-solving skills and provide them with the necessary tools and opportunities to build what they design. From the skills they learn they are ready Day One to enter the work force.
The Department utilizes large indoor laboratories and two outdoor facilities for Learn by Doing activities. These include the John Merriam Irrigation Practices Field and the Charles M. Burt Water Hydraulics Laboratory overseen by the Irrigation Training and Research Center, housed within the Department. Two indoor shop areas focus on fabrication and mechanical systems, one shop for research and teaching aquaculture and bioresource, one for wood working, and another for electronics and automation. As part of the new Plant Sciences buildings, two new laboratories have been added to the Departments' resources, including the Bee Sweet Automation Laboratory and a water quality laboratory.
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at Cal Poly is one of the nation’s premier colleges of agriculture and natural resources – and the fifth-largest of its kind in the U.S. With more than 4,200 undergraduates, 16 majors, five graduate programs, and 192 dedicated faculty and staff, CAFES is a powerhouse of innovation, impact and hands-on learning.
Our signature Learn by Doing philosophy comes alive across 10,000 acres of cropland, pastures, orchards, vineyards, and forests, as well as in specialized teaching and research facilities. From the Animal Health Center and Equine Center to the Center for Wine and Viticulture, Strawberry Center and Plant Sciences Complex, students and faculty work side by side – tackling real-world challenges and shaping the future of food, agriculture and the environment.
Discover more at cafes.calpoly.edu
Applicants are encouraged to submit materials by October 8, 2026 for full consideration; however, applications received after this date may be considered. Interested candidates must attach the following:
*Universal Student Success Statement Prompt - Cal Poly is a public, student-centered university that serves the diverse constituents of the state of California and has a strong emphasis on the teacher-scholar model. Please detail your approach to teaching and learning at the collegiate level, including evidence of experience with inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching, to a wide variety of students and a description of how you will continue to develop this expertise at Cal Poly. Service or scholarship related to skills developed in these areas might also be included here.
Finalists for the position will be required to provide 3 letters of recommendation. The selected candidate will be required to provide official transcripts prior to appointment for final consideration.
Cal Poly’s ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.
Inquiries can be directed to Dr. Mohammad Sadek, mosadek@calpoly.edu or 805-756-2638.
The California State University is the nation's largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 450,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are people of color, and nearly one-third of them are first-generation college students.
Because the CSU's 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly.
The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 127,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU.
Learn more at https://www.calstate.edu/
